Kolkata: In a sweeping move to ensure a “level playing field,” the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday, March 29, 2026, ordered the immediate transfer of 173 police officers across West Bengal. The reshuffle impacts Officers-in-Charge (OC) and Inspectors-in-Charge (IC) in high-stakes regions, including 31 stations under the Kolkata Police jurisdiction. Key reshuffles were noted in the politically sensitive Bhabanipur constituency—where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faces a fierce challenge from Suvendu Adhikari—and Nandigram in Purba Medinipur. Soumitra Basu, formerly with the Special Task Force (STF), has been appointed as the new IC of Bhabanipur.
The ECI directive, issued from its New Delhi headquarters, spans several volatile districts including Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Birbhum, and the North and South 24 Parganas. Notable appointments include Debdulal Mondal taking charge in Haldia and Kajal Dutta in Kolaghat. According to senior poll officials, these large-scale transfers are a standard protocol aimed at minimizing local political influence on law enforcement and ensuring neutrality during the electoral process. The commission emphasized that such measures are vital for maintaining public confidence in the administrative machinery before the state goes to the polls.
The move has further intensified the ongoing friction between the Trinamool Congress-led state government and the Centre. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has previously criticized such administrative overhauls as “politically motivated” interference by central agencies. However, the ECI remains firm that the reshuffle is necessary for the smooth conduct of the 294-member Assembly elections. Polling in West Bengal is scheduled to take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the final counting of votes set for May 4.
